Matrox EPI-TC4P128LPAF User manual

www.matrox.com/graphics

Graphics Solutions for Professionals

User Guide

10963-301-0111

2008.01.28

Matrox

Epic

A

Series

ENGLISH

2 Matrox EpicA Series – User Guide

Overview

Thank you for purchasing a Matrox Epic

A

graphics card. Your Matrox Epic

A

product is a high

performance, low-powered graphics card designed for thin client systems. Matrox Epic

A

server-side

software manages your Windows desktop in remote sessions.

Hardware supplied

Software supplied

Matrox software is available from the Matrox Web site

(www.matrox.com/graphics/en/finent/products/epica/drivers_software.php

).

Client-side software (Windows 2000/XP/XPe and Linux)

!

Matrox display drivers and PowerDesk-SE

– to use your Matrox graphics hardware and

manage program windows in your local session

!

Matrox PowerSpace –

to organize your Windows desktop in your local session

Server-side software (Windows 2000/XP and Windows Server 2003)

!

Matrox PowerDesk Epic

A

– to manage program windows in remote sessions

!

Matrox PowerSpace Epic

A

–

to organise your Windows desktop in remote sessions

Matrox EpicA card

(EpicA TC2 card shown)

DVI dual-monitor cable

*

* Included with Matrox EpicA TC2 or TC2-Lite products.

DVI quad-monitor cable

†

† Included with Matrox EpicA TC4 products.

DVI-to-HD15 adapters

‡

‡ 2 adapters included with a dual-monitor cable and 4 with a quad-monitor cable.

Matrox EpicA Series – User Guide 3

Installation overview

To install your Matrox product:

1

Install the Matrox card – see “Hardware installation”, page 4.

2

Connect your monitors – see “Connection setup”, page 7.

3

Install the software – see “Software setup”, page 11.

Note:

If your Matrox product is already partially or fully installed on your computer, some

or all the installation information in this guide may not apply to you. However, this

information may be useful if you need to reinstall your Matrox product.

4 Matrox EpicA Series – User Guide

Hardware installation

This section describes how to install your Matrox card. If your Matrox graphics card is already

installed in your computer, skip to “Connection setup”, page 7. For information specific to your

computer, like how to remove its cover, see your system manual.

1 Open your computer and

remove your existing graphics

card

*

If a graphics card

isn’t

already installed in

your computer, skip to step 2.

a

Using

Add/Remove Programs

in the

Windows

Control Panel

, remove any

currently installed display drivers.

Restart your computer for the changes

to take effect.

After your computer restarts, you’re

prompted to install drivers for the new graphics hardware detected. Click

Cancel

.

WA R N I N G :

To avoid personal injury and to prevent damage to your computer or Matrox

hardware, turn off your computer, unplug it, and then wait for it to cool before you install

your Matrox product and touch any of the internal parts of your computer.

While your computer is turned off but still plugged in, some electrical current is supplied

to the motherboard. This current may prevent newly installed hardware from working

properly.

Also, static electricity can severely damage electronic parts. Before touching any electronic

parts, drain static electricity from your body (for example, by touching the metal frame of

your computer). When handling a card, carefully hold it by its edges and avoid touching its

circuitry.

Note:

Matrox low-profile graphics cards ship with ATX brackets compatible with most

systems. If you have a low-profile system, you may need to change the standard bracket on

your graphics card to a low-profile bracket. For more information, see “Replacing brackets

on a low-profile graphics card”, page 6.

Note: Server only

- If you’re not installing a Matrox graphics card on your server, skip to

“Server-side software setup”, page 12.

Matrox EpicA Series – User Guide 5

b

Turn off your computer and all peripherals such as your monitor or printer.

c

Open the computer and remove your existing graphics card. (If graphics hardware is

built into the motherboard of your computer, you may need to disable it manually. For

more information, see your system manual.)

2 Choose a PCI slot

Most computers have different types of

expansion slots. Choose a

PCI

(not

PCI

Express

) slot for your graphics card. Your

card supports both 64-bit and 32-bit PCI

slots. Your system manual should identify

the location of each type of expansion slot in

your computer.

* With multi-display mode, you may be able to use your existing graphics card. For Windows 2000/XP, see Windows 2000/XP

online help under “Install additional monitors”.

(64-bit)

(Back of computer)

(32-bit)

PCI

Express

slots

(×16)

(×1)

PCI

slots

Note:

If you’re using a PCI graphics card in a PCI 64-bit compatible slot, your choice of PCI

slot may affect your card or system performance. For more information, see your computer

manual.

WA R N I N G :

Inserting your Matrox card

into the wrong type of slot could damage

your card, your computer, or both.

If you have a PCI card and the versions

(32- or 64-bit) of your card and PCI

expansion slot are different, only part of

the card’s edge connector (the part closest

to the bracket) or expansion slot (the part

closest to the back of the computer)

should be used.

PCI card

32-bit

64-bit

PCI Express ×16 card

6 Matrox EpicA Series – User Guide

3 Insert your Matrox card

a

Position your Matrox card over the

expansion slot you’ve chosen.

b

Push the card in firmly and evenly until

it’s fully seated in the slot.

c

Secure the bracket of your Matrox card

to the computer frame.

Your Matrox card is now installed.

Before restarting your computer

, connect your monitor or

monitors (“Connection setup”, page 7).

After connecting

, restart your computer and install your

Matrox software (see “Software setup”, page 11).

Replacing brackets on a low-profile graphics card

Matrox low-profile graphics cards ship with ATX brackets compatible with most systems. The

following explains how to change your standard bracket to a low-profile bracket.

1

Remove the standard bracket from your

Matrox graphics card by removing the

nuts (

a

) on either side of the monitor

connector. Depending on your Matrox

product, you may need to remove a

screw (

b

) on top of the graphics card.

2

Attach and fasten the low-profile

bracket with the two nuts you just

removed.

ATX bracket

Low-profile bracket

Matrox EpicA Series – User Guide 7

Connection setup

This section describes how to connect your monitors to your Matrox product.

Connector overview – EpicA TC2 and EpicA TC2-Lite

* Supported with EpicA TC2-Lite and EpicA TC2 only. TV output adapters are sold separately (see http://shopmatrox.com).

Connector overview – EpicA TC4

Dual-monitor cable

(LFH60-to-DVI)

DVI-to-HD15 adapter

DVI-to-HD15

adapter

Secondary DVI

connector (2/4)

Main DVI connector (1/3)

TV output

adapter*

Composite

video

connector

S-video

connector

Quad-monitor cable

(KX20-to-DVI)

DVI-to-HD15

adapter

Main DVI connector (1/5)

8 Matrox EpicA Series – User Guide

Step-by-step connection setup

1 Attach the dual-monitor cable or quad-monitor cable

Epic

A

TC-2 and Epic

A

TC-2-Lite –

Attach

your Matrox dual-monitor cable to the

connector on the bracket of your Matrox

card. Make sure the connectors are properly

fastened.

WA R N I N G :

Don’t change monitor connections while your computer is turned on. While

your computer is turned on, it may be using monitor settings that are specific to the current

monitor connections.

Some

devices may be permanently damaged if incorrect settings are

used.

Note:

Whenever you change your connection setup, make sure you’re using the correct

connectors and that all connectors are properly fastened.

Whenever you restart your computer, make sure your monitors are already turned on.

Otherwise, the software may not be able to properly detect your monitors.

Dual-monitor

cable

WA R NIN G :

To avoid damaging the LFH-60

connector on your dual-monitor cable or on your

graphics card, carefully insert the connector on your

dual-monitor cable as straight as possible into the

connector on your graphics card. Specifically,

inserting the connectors into each other at an angle is

likely to bend and damage the pins on the connector

of the dual-monitor cable.

Matrox EpicA Series – User Guide 9

Epic

A

TC4

– Attach your Matrox quad-

monitor cable to the connector on the

bracket of your Matrox card. Make sure the

connectors are properly fastened.

2 Connect your monitors

Connect your preferred monitor to the main

DVI connector of your multi-monitor cable.

If your monitor has a DVI connector, connect it

directly to the main DVI connector of your

multi-monitor cable.

If your monitor has an HD-15 connector, use

the DVI-to-HD15 adapter included with your

product to connect your monitor to the main

connector. Make sure the connectors are

properly fastened

Your Matrox card is now installed. Restart your computer and install your Matrox software

(see “Software setup”, page 11).

Quad-monitor

cable

Monitor

connector

(DVI)

DVI-to-HD15

adapter

Monitor connector

(HD-15)

Note:

Monitors are numbered consecutively

based on which connector each is attached to.

Numbering starts with the

primary display

–

the one that first displays information when

you restart your computer. If another graphics

card is installed in your computer, display

numbering may be different.

EpicA TC2 and

Epic

A TC2-Lite

Epic

A TC4

10 Matrox EpicA Series – User Guide

Note:

To connect a

digital

monitor (a monitor that

uses digital input, usually a flat panel monitor) to

your Matrox product, your monitor must have a DVI

connector.

Some monitors with DVI connectors support both

digital and analog input. If you’re using one of these

monitors with your Matrox product, make sure it’s

configured to use the correct type of input. For more

information, see your monitor documentation.

DVI connector

(DVI-D: digital)

HD-15 connector (analog)

DVI connector

(DVI-I: analog/digital)

Matrox EpicA Series – User Guide 11

Software setup

This section describes how to install Matrox software for

Windows 2000/XP/XPe

and

Windows Server

2003

. For the Linux operating system, see the documentation included with your Linux software

package.

You may need administrator rights to install certain software. For more information, see Windows

documentation or contact your system administrator.

Software overview

Client-side software setup

1 Download your Matrox software package

Download the latest client-side software package for your Epic

A

product from the Matrox

Web site (www.matrox.com/graphics/en/finent/products/epica/drivers_software.php

). Your

software package includes Matrox display drivers and Matrox PowerDesk software.

To run Matrox PowerSpace locally on the client side, download Matrox PowerSpace from the

Matrox Web site (www.matrox.com/graphics/support/drivers

).

2 Install your software package

Windows detects new hardware when you restart. If Matrox display drivers haven’t been

previously installed, Windows prompts you to install a display driver. Click

Cancel

, then run

the software package you downloaded.

Client-side software

" Matrox PowerDesk-SE

and display drivers for

EpicA

" Matrox PowerSpace

(optional)

Supported OS

" Microsoft Windows

2000/XP/XPe

" Linux

Client-side hardware

" Matrox EpicA

Server-side software

" Matrox PowerDesk EpicA

" Matrox PowerSpace

EpicA (optional)

Supported OS

" Microsoft Windows XP

and Windows Server

2000/2003

Supported remote protocols

" Microsoft RDP

" Linux rDesktop

" Citrix ICA (Windows only)

12 Matrox EpicA Series – User Guide

3 Install Matrox PowerSpace (optional)

Run the Matrox PowerSpace software package you downloaded. While PowerSpace is

running on the client side, it organizes your Windows desktop in your local session. Matrox

PowerSpace Epica needs to be installed on the server to organise your Windows desktop in

remote sessions.

4 Configure your monitor settings (EpicA TC2 and EpicA TC2-Lite)

To take full advantage of your graphics card, make sure you have the correct monitor settings

selected in Windows for

each

of your monitors:

a

Right-click your Windows desktop background, then click

Properties

#

Settings

#

Advanced

#

Monitor

. If you’re using a multi-display desktop, select a display before

clicking

Advanced

.

b

If “

Hide modes that this monitor cannot display

” is available, make sure it’s enabled.

Under

Screen refresh rate

, select the highest refresh rate listed.

c

Click

OK

#

OK

.

For more information on Windows monitor settings, see Windows documentation.

5 Set up your display software

Use Matrox PowerDesk software to change certain display settings or access Matrox features.

To access PowerDesk, click its icon ( ) on your Windows taskbar. To see the PowerDesk

icon in Windows XP, you may need to click the

Show hidden icons

button ( ) on your

Windows taskbar. For more information on how to use Matrox PowerDesk, see the online

help.

Server-side software setup

1 Download your Matrox software package

Download the latest server-side Matrox PowerDesk Epic

A

software package for your product

from the Matrox Web site

(www.matrox.com/graphics/en/finent/products/epica/drivers_software.php). Make sure

you download the proper package for the clients and operating system you want to support.

WA R N I N G :

If incorrect software monitor settings are applied,

some

monitors can be

permanently damaged. For more information, see your monitor manual.

Matrox EpicA Series – User Guide 13

Download Matrox PowerSpace Epic

A

if you want PowerSpace to organize your Windows

desktop in the remote sessions of your clients.

2 Install your software package

Run the software package you downloaded and follow the on-screen instructions.

For more information, see the

README

file included with your software package.

3 Install Matrox PowerSpace EpicA (optional)

Run the PowerSpace software package you downloaded.

Note:

Matrox PowerDesk and PowerSpace software can be run locally on the server only if

Matrox hardware is installed in your server.

14 Matrox EpicA Series – User Guide

TV output (EpicA TC2-Lite and EpicA TC2 only)

Connection setup

1 Turn off computer

Windows 2000/XP

– To shut down your computer, click

Start

#

Shut Down

#

Shut down

#

OK

, then turn off your computer.

2 Attach TV adapter

Use a DVI-to-HD15 adapter to connect the

TV output adapter to the secondary DVI

connector (

2/4

) on your dual-monitor

cable.

If your Matrox product supports TV output, you can use the TV

output adapter to connect a video recorder or a TV to your

Matrox graphics card. This adapter is only included with certain

Matrox products. To purchase a Matrox TV output adapter for

your product, see the Matrox online store

(http://shopmatrox.com

).

This section describes how to use the

TV output

feature.

Note:

TV output isn’t supported with full-screen DOS display modes (for example, the

information you see before Windows starts) or with standard VGA mode (for example,

when you restart Windows in “safe mode”). Older programs may use these display modes.

While one of these display modes is in use, your TV displays nothing (black).

VIDEO OUT

S-VIDEO OUT

TV output adapter

WA R N I N G :

Don’t change monitor connections while your computer is turned on. While

your computer is turned on, it may be using monitor settings that are specific to the current

monitor connections.

If a display device (monitor, TV, or video recorder) is connected while your computer is

using settings intended for another display device, the display of the new device may be

garbled or unusable.

Some

devices may be permanently damaged if incorrect settings are

used.

TV output

adapter

DVI-to-HD15

adapter

Secondary DVI

connector

Matrox EpicA Series – User Guide 15

3 Connect video output

To connect to a TV or a video recorder, you’ll

need a composite video (RCA) or S-video cable.

If your video device (a TV or a video recorder)

didn’t come with one of these cables, these types

of cable are available at most electronics stores.

The type of cable you use depends on what your

video device supports. Many video devices

support composite video connections, and

some higher-quality video devices support

S-video connections.

a

Attach one end of your composite video or

S-video cable to the appropriate connector

on your TV adapter.

b

Attach the other end to the

VIDEO IN

*

connector on your TV

†

or video recorder.

c

Before viewing or recording video output

directly from your computer, make sure

your TV or video recorder is set up to use

line

input. For example, if your TV has a

TV/VIDEO

switch, set it to

VIDEO

; or if your

video recorder has a

TUNER/LINE

switch,

set it to

LINE

.

Optionally, if you use the composite video

and

S-video connectors on your Matrox TV adapter,

you can directly connect two different video devices at the same time.

To v i e w

and

record output from the same Matrox video connector, you can connect it to a

video recorder and connect the video recorder to a TV. For more information, see your video

recorder and TV manuals.

* The labels on your devices may not be consistent with what’s in this guide. Different manufacturers sometimes use different labels

for the same type of controls and connectors. For example, the

VIDEO IN

connector on your TV may be labeled

VIDEO 1

(or

VIDEO

2

). To match labels, see the documentation for your video devices.

† If your TV only has an antenna or cable TV connector, you can use an

RF modulator

to connect it to your Matrox card. RF

modulators are available at most electronics stores.

TV or video recorder

using S-video

Composite

video (RCA)

cable

S-video cable

TV or video recorder

using composite

video

TV adapter

(Note: Using the Matrox composite video and

S-video connectors at the same time is

optional.)

16 Matrox EpicA Series – User Guide

4 Connect audio output

Typically, the sound output from a

computer comes from speakers connected

to your sound card. If you prefer, you can

hear or record the sound output from your

computer using the same TV or video

recorder you connect to your graphics card.

To do this, you need an audio cable with a

stereo jack on one end and two RCA

connectors on the other end. If you don’t

have this type of cable, you can buy one at

most consumer electronics stores.

a

Plug the stereo-jack end of the audio

cable into the

LINE OUT

*

()

connector on your sound card.

b

Plug the other end of the cable into the left (

L

) and right (

R

)

AUDIO IN

connectors of

your video device. For more information, see your sound card manual.

Software setup

If a TV or video recorder is connected to your Matrox product, you can use TV output mode to view

or record your display on your TV or video recorder. (To connect video devices to your computer, see

page 14.)

TV settings have lower resolutions and refresh rates than typical computer monitor settings. Lower

refresh rates may result in more noticeable flicker.

Windows 2000/XP

– To adjust TV settings, access the

Multi-Display Setup

dialog box for your

Matrox product (see “Set up your display software”, page 12).

* If your computer has no audio

LINE OUT

connector, you can use its

SPKR

(speaker) connector instead. In this case, all your

computer sound output goes to the video device you connected to.

TV or video

recorder

Sound card

Note:

Two TV standards are supported for TV output. The NTSC standard is used in North

America and Japan, among other places. The PAL standard is used in most of Western

Europe and in China, among other places.

If an incorrect TV standard is selected in Matrox software, the output from your computer

may not appear or record properly on your TV or your video recorder. To find out what

standard your TV or video recorder supports, see its documentation.

Matrox EpicA Series – User Guide 17

Troubleshooting

Basic procedures

This section explains basic procedures that are referred to by some troubleshooting items in this

guide.

Restarting in VGA mode

Windows 2000/XP

– What follows is information on how to restart your computer in

VGA mode

.

1

Click

Start

#

Shut Down

#

Restart

#

OK

* to restart your computer. (* Depending on

your version and configuration of Windows, this part of the step may not be necessary.)

If your primary monitor is unusable, see your system manual for information on how to

restart your computer using a hardware control.

2

Before

Windows starts, press [F8] for the Windows startup menu to appear. (If [F8]

doesn’t work, instead try pressing and holding [Ctrl] before Windows starts.)

3

Select “VGA mode”, then press [Enter].

Graphics – Main troubleshooting

This section addresses possible problems that could prevent you from using your computer.

Problem Computer doesn’t display information or boot after Matrox card is

installed

1

Cause

Your Matrox card may not be properly installed.

1

Solution

Make sure your Matrox card is properly installed. Specifically, make sure the card is firmly

inserted in its expansion slot and that all connections to it are firmly in place. For more

information, see “Hardware installation”, page 4.

2

Cause

There may be unsupported graphics hardware in your computer.

1

Solution

If an unsupported graphics card is plugged into an expansion slot, remove it.

2

Solution

If graphics hardware is built into your computer motherboard, your system may not have

automatically disabled it when you inserted your Matrox card. Check your system manual for

instructions on how to disable your computer’s built-in graphics hardware.

18 Matrox EpicA Series – User Guide

3

Cause

Your computer BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) settings may be incorrect.

1

Solution

Change your BIOS settings. For more information on your computer BIOS, see your system

manual.

4

Cause

Your computer BIOS may not be up to date. For more information on your computer BIOS,

see your system manual.

1

Solution

Reinstall your previous graphics card and, if possible, update your computer BIOS. This can

usually be done with software from the manufacturer of your computer. Contact your system

vendor or manufacturer to get a BIOS update for your computer.

To get the correct BIOS update, you may need to know the serial number your computer

displays when it restarts. (This number is usually in the lower-left corner of the display.)

Problem Wrong color balance, screen image off-center, or no picture at all

1

Cause

Your monitor video controls may be improperly set.

1

Solution

Adjust your monitor controls (brightness, contrast, and so on). For more information, see

your monitor manual.

2

Cause

Your monitor may not be properly connected.

1

Solution

Make sure you’re using the correct connectors ( see “Connection setup”, page 7) and that all

connectors are properly fastened.

2

Solution

Make sure the monitor power cable is firmly in place.

3

Solution

Make sure the connection to the back of the monitor is firmly in place.

3

Cause

If display problems occur after the startup screen of your operating system, your software

monitor settings may be incorrect.

1

Solution

Make sure correct software monitor settings are selected.

If your primary display is still usable, see “”, page 12. Otherwise, see the next troubleshooting

item.

2

Solution

Windows 2000/XP

– Make sure you’re not using inappropriate monitor setting

customizations:

1

Click the PowerDesk icon ( ) on your Windows taskbar to access the PowerDesk main

interface. To see the PowerDesk icon in Windows XP, you may need to click the

Show

hidden icons

button ( ) on your Windows taskbar.

2

Click

Monitor Adjustments

.

Matrox EpicA Series – User Guide 19

3

Select the appropriate device.

4

Click

Adjust visible area and refresh rate

#

Restore defaults

.

Problem After the startup screen, or after display settings are changed, the

screen image is garbled or unusable

(blank screen, rolling or overlapping screen images)

1

Cause

The Matrox display driver may be trying to use settings your monitor doesn’t support. This

can happen if a monitor was never selected in the software and the display resolution was

changed to one your monitor doesn’t support, or if the monitor connected to your computer

was changed without changing it in the software.

1

Solution

Windows 2000/XP

–

1

If your primary display is unusable, restart your computer in VGA mode (see “Restarting

in VGA mode”, page 17).

2

Right-click your Windows desktop background, then click

Properties

#

Settings

.

3

Move the

Screen area

(Windows 2000) or

Screen resolution

(Windows XP) slider down

to its lowest setting, then click

OK

.

4

Restart your computer normally.

5

Make sure the correct monitor is selected in Windows(see “”, page 12).

6

Restore your original display settings (see steps 2 and 3).

2

Cause

Files on your system may have been deleted or corrupted.

1

Solution

Remove, then restore Matrox software:

WA R N I N G :

If incorrect software monitor settings are applied,

some

monitors can be

permanently damaged. For more information, see your monitor manual.

Note:

Before removing software, make sure you have all the necessary files to reinstall

software that may still be needed.

Note:

Windows 2000/XP

– You may need administrator rights to remove certain software.

For more information, see Windows documentation.

20 Matrox EpicA Series – User Guide

Windows 2000/XP

–

1

If your primary display is unusable, restart your computer in VGA mode (see “Restarting

in VGA mode”, page 17).

2

To remove Matrox software, click

Start

#

Settings

*

#

Control Panel

#

Add/Remove

Programs

(double-click*)

#

Matrox PowerDesk-HF and Driver

#

Change/Remove

#

Yes

. (* Depending on your version and configuration of Windows, this part of the step

may not be necessary.)

3

Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

4

After your computer has restarted, install the latest display driver for your Matrox card.

You may also need to reinstall other Matrox software.

Graphics – Extra troubleshooting

The following are extra troubleshooting items related to graphics hardware.

Problem Can’t use Windows, Windows reports a configuration error, and/or

can’t install or uninstall Matrox display driver

1

Cause

The problem may be specific to the motherboard in your computer.

1

Solution

There may be a software update available for your motherboard. To find out what

motherboard model your computer is using, see your system manual. For more information,

contact the maker of your motherboard or computer. Many motherboard or computer

manufacturers have software updates available on their Web site.

2

Cause

Files on your system may have been deleted or corrupted.

1

Solution

Remove, then restore Matrox software. For more information, see page 19.

Problem Monitor settings aren’t automatically detected

Note:

Windows 2000/XP

– You may need administrator rights to install certain software.

For more information, see Windows documentation.

WA R N I N G :

If incorrect software monitor settings are used, your display may become

unusable and

some

monitors can be permanently damaged. For more information, see

your monitor manual.

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